Protecting the gut after serious radiation with YK-4-250
Official title: Development of YK-4-250, a radiation mitigator of GI-ARS
Funded at Old Dominion University · NIH-11324491 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new drug called YK-4-250 aims to protect the intestines and improve survival after high‑dose radiation exposure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Old Dominion University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Norfolk, United States) |
| Project start | April 25, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $548,931 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AI187033-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324491 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People exposed to high levels of radiation who are at risk for gastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome would be the eventual candidates, though current work is preclinical and human trials would be needed first.
✕Less likely to help
Patients receiving routine low-dose medical imaging or those with non‑radiation causes of gut disease are unlikely to benefit from this therapy.
What this research studies
This project develops YK-4-250, a compound that combines an antioxidant with an angiotensin receptor blocker to protect the gut after high-dose radiation. In mice, oral dosing at 24, 48, and 72 hours after exposure led to faster intestinal recovery and much higher 30‑day survival. The team will optimize safe oral formulations, study basic safety, and measure how the drug is absorbed, distributed, and cleared from the body. They will also test effects on survival and radiation-induced lung scarring and compare drug effects with genetic blocking of the AT1 receptor to understand how it works.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce gut damage and deaths after severe radiation exposure, improving recovery and survival.
How similar studies have gone: Related drugs such as angiotensin blockers and antioxidants have shown protective effects in animal models and preliminary mouse data for YK-4-250 showed large survival benefits, but human testing has not yet been done.
Where this research is happening
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Old Dominion University
Norfolk, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Milton L. — Old Dominion University
- Study coordinator: Brown, Milton L.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.